Face off...

Arabella's POV

I followed Ash and Ger without a word, my breath catching in my throat as we approached the border.

Ash's fists were clenched,jaws tight, and his stride was purposeful. Ger walked beside him, calm yet alert. I had to pick up my pace to keep up with their determined march.

When we reached the border, a group of rogues stood waiting, their expressions dripping with hostility. The tallest of them, his face marred by scars and burns, stepped forward with a sneer. “We are here to settle a score,” he growled, his gaze locking onto Asher.

“This is our territory. State your business or leave.”

Ash’s voice was cold, authoritative, and unyielding. “This is Blood Crescent land. Say your piece and get out.”

The rogue’s grin twisted into something sinister. “Our business is with you, Darkheart. You took something that belongs to us, and we are here to take it back.” His predatory gaze flickered over to me, sending a chill down my spine.

Ash stepped in front of me, blocking the rogue’s view. “You will regret those words,” he said, his voice dripping with menace.

The rogue ignored him, addressing his pack with a jeering tone. “Boys, it’s been a while since we tasted women. Shall we have some fun before we kill them?”

Sickening laughter erupted from the rogues, their leers making my stomach churn.

Ash’s fury as if burst at that instant. “I will pluck your eyes out and feed them to the ravens,” he snarled, lunging at the scarred man.

Chaos erupted.

The warriors of the pack charged forward to meet the rogues head-on, the air filled with snarls, growls, and the clash of metal.

Ger stayed close to me, his silver sword flashing in the moonlight matching his silver hair as he took down rogue after rogue with brutal efficiency.

I tried to stay calm, but the chaos around me stirred something deep within. A prickling sensation crawled up my arms, a familiar and unwelcome force I had not felt in years. Panic bubbled in my chest as I fought to suppress it.

Then, a soft, mocking voice whispered in my mind. “You are not ready for this. They will kill you, just like they killed the others.”

I whipped my head around, but no one was there. The voice was coming from within me.

Ash's roar snapped me back to reality. He was locked in a vicious fight with the scarred rogue leader, their strength evenly matched. But the rogue suddenly broke away and lunged straight for me.

I froze as he closed the distance. My instincts screamed at me to move, but my feet were rooted in place.

Then, as if on autopilot, I dodged to the side. Energy surged through me, too powerful to contain. My hand shot out, and a bolt of force slammed into the rogue’s chest, sending him flying.

Everything stopped. The rogues and my pack alike turned to stare at me.

The rogue leader recovered quickly, rising to his feet with a snarl. Another rogue charged at me, but before I could react, Ger stepped in, his sword slicing cleanly through the attacker’s neck.

“Are you alright?” Ger called out, his eyes scanning me.

I nodded quickly, though my knees were trembling. The voice in my head laughed cruelly. “You should have stayed hidden. Let us take over, or you will get yourself killed.”

I staggered, the world spinning around me. The energy inside me was too much to handle, threatening to consume me.

Ash’s hand suddenly gripped my shoulder, grounding me. His strength was overwhelming as he drove his knee into one rogue’s stomach and slashed another’s throat with a swift, brutal motion.

“Stay with me,” he murmured, his eyes locking onto mine. For a brief moment, I saw something in his gaze that was not disdain or indifference, neither was it love.

The rogue leader charged again, but this time, Ash and I moved as one. I placed my hand on his arm, letting the energy within me flow into him. His strength surged, and a wild grin spread across his face.

“Let’s finish this,” he said, his voice low but resolute.

The rogue’s eyes widened in fear. “No…” he started, but it was too late. I unleashed the energy, channeling it through Ash. It hit the rogue leader , tearing through him with devastating force. His screams echoed in the night, then fell silent.

The remaining rogues hesitated, their morale shattered. Ash stood over their leader’s lifeless body, his voice a deadly growl. “Run, or you will join him.”

The rogues fled, disappearing into the woods.

As the dust settled, the energy within me began to fade. My body felt heavy, my limbs weakened. The voices in my head were silent, but an eerie emptiness replaced them.

Ash turned to me, his expression unreadable. But before he could say a word, darkness crept in, and I collapsed into the void.